Signal button mounting



March 11, 1941. J c 3 2,234,478

SIGNAL BUTTON MOUNTING Filed March 14, 1936 illllll Patented Mar. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIGNAL BUTTON MOUNTING Joseph C. Mills, Cleveland, Ohio Application March 14, 1936, Serial No. 68,821

3 Claims. (01. 40-130) This invention is directed to new and useful improvements in signal button mountings. The buttons or reflecting units for which these mountings are provided are of the type in common use today generally comprising a unit of glass formed with a curved objective lens and an oppositely disposed curved surface covered with a reflecting material so relatively positioned as to return rays of light impinging upon the objective lens substantially back to their source. Signs formed of a plurality of such buttons forming the desired characters are common along the roadsides and appear to be lighted at night when the beams from the headlights of an approaching automobile strike the buttons and are reflected therefrom back to the driver. These buttons are also used as signals upon trucks or automobiles to indicate their presence to an approaching vehicle if and when the lighting system of such truck or vehicle should fail.

A problem present in the constructing of signs utilizing such buttons is that of providing mountings for holding these buttons in position that are inexpensive to manufacture and convenient to handle in forming the characters on the sign.

The primary object of this invention is to provide mountings for such buttons that are pivotally joined together in the form of a chain 30 so that the desired characters can be easily formed without specifically placing each individual unit.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a series of mountings that are of simple and cheap construction.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide such a series of pivotally attached mountings having convenient means for fastening to a signboard in the desired position.

40 Other advantages obtained from this invention will become apparent upon examination of the following detailed description.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a plurality of mountings embodying the invention pivotally joined together and containing reflector buttons.

Fig. 2 is a central cross section along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the mountings without a button.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a sign upon which appears the character RR formed from a plurality of thesemounting units.

In detail on each unit I indicates the upper face or plate portion of the mounting provided wardly at right angles and parallel to face I to with a circular opening 2 adapted to receive and expose the objective lens of the glass reflector button, 3 and 4 two oppositely disposed curved extensions each provided with holes 5 adapted to receive the rivets 6 which pivotally join each 5 unit to its neighbor.

Extending downwardly from the other side of face I and at right angles thereto are the side portions 1 which near their ends are bent out.- form tabs 8 having holes 9 adapted to receive the screws or nails ID to secure the unit where desired.

Fig. 2 illustrates the positioning of the buttons in the mountings. The button is indicated generally by reference character H the curved objective lens by l2 and the reflecting surface by I3. The button is formed with a shoulder M which abuts against the inner side of the mounting thus limiting the exposed portion of the button. The diameter of the hole 2 in the face I of the mounting unit is such that a tight fit with the portion of the button above the shoulder I4 is assured so that the button will be held in position in the mounting unit temporarily by friction. 5 When the units are permanently secured to a panel or sign the upper surface of the panel I5 will abut against the reflecting surface l3 of the button II and securely hold it in position.

In Fig. 4 is shown a sign I6 on which has been formed a warning character composed of a plurality of buttons mounted in the units above described.

I claim:

1. A signal button mounting comprising a plate formed with a hole to receive and hold a signal button, opposite curved extensions of said plate formed with holes to receive rivets topivotally join said mounting with other similar mountings, downwardly extending side portions and tabs extending outwardly from said side portions and formed with'holes adapted to receive means for securing the mounting as desired.

2. A signal button mounting comprising a plate formed with a hole, a signal button extending upwardly through said hole so as to be partially exposed and held thereby, opposite extensions of said plate formed with holes to receive means for pivotally joining said mounting with other similar mountings, side portions extending downwardly to a point parallel to the lower end of the button and tabs extending outwardly from said side portions formed with holes to receive means for securing said mounting as desired.

3. A signal mounted on a panel formed from a plurality of units pivotally joined together each unit comprising a plate formed with an opening, a reflector signal button secured in and. partially exposed from said opening, opposite extensions of said plate formed with holes, means extending through said holes pivotally joining said extensions to similar extensions on neighboring units, opposite downwardly extending sides partially encasing the unexposed portion of the reflector signal button, outwardly extending tabs from said sides and means securing said tabs to the panel. 5

JOSEPH C. MILLS. 

